How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers: Slips, Grow Bags and Harvest
How to grow sweet potatoes in containers on a patio or deck: how to get or start sweet potato slips, the best pots and sweet potatoes in grow bags, watering and feeding, when to harvest sweet potatoes, and curing sweet potatoes for sweeter flavor and long storage.
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Sweet potatoes love heat, need loose soil and produce long, trailing vines with attractive leaves. That makes them surprisingly well suited to large containers and grow bags: the potting mix warms up quickly, the loose mix lets the roots swell, and harvesting is as easy as tipping the container over.
This guide explains how to grow sweet potatoes in containers from start to finish. You will learn where sweet potato slips come from and how to start your own, which containers work best, why sweet potatoes in grow bags are so popular, how to water and feed them, when to harvest sweet potatoes, and why curing sweet potatoes is the step that makes them sweet.
Why Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers?
- Container mix warms up fast, and sweet potatoes love heat
- Loose mix gives smooth, well-shaped roots
- Easy harvest: tip out the container
- Fewer soil pests such as wireworms
- Attractive trailing vines on a patio
- Containers must be large
- Pots dry out quickly in summer
- Smaller harvest than in a large garden bed
- Roots can be damaged by cold if left too late
What Are Sweet Potato Slips?
Sweet potatoes are not grown from seed potatoes like regular potatoes. Instead, you plant sweet potato slips: rooted sprouts that grow from a sweet potato root. Mississippi State University describes good slips as firm, green and 8 to 12 inches long, ideally with a few leaves.
- Buy slips from garden centers or online suppliers in spring.
- Plant them as soon as possible after they arrive; keep them in a little water or moist paper in the meantime.
- Clemson notes that most gardeners buy slips, and that homegrown or organic roots sprout more readily than grocery store roots, which are often treated to prevent sprouting.
How to Start Your Own Sweet Potato Slips
Mississippi State starts slips in a hotbed about eight weeks before planting, covering small roots with 1 to 2 inches of soil. At home, a warm, sunny windowsill works on a small scale; see our windowsill garden guide.
Sweet Potato Varieties for Containers
| Variety | Days to harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beauregard | About 90 to 100 days | High-yielding; the leading commercial variety |
| Evangeline | About 90 to 100 days | High sugar content |
| Covington | About 110 to 120 days | High-yielding; needs a long season |
| Okinawan | About 110 to 130 days | Purple flesh; needs a long, warm season |
These days to maturity come from Mississippi State University. In areas with short summers, choose faster varieties such as Beauregard or Evangeline. Compact or “bush” types with shorter vines are also handy for small patios.
Choosing Containers for Sweet Potatoes
| Container | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large plastic or fabric pot | At least 15 to 20 gallons | One to three slips per container |
| Grow bag | 15 to 25 gallons or more | Excellent drainage and easy harvest |
| Half barrel or large planter | 25 gallons or more | Room for several slips |
| Raised bed | Any size | Not a container, but ideal on heavy soil |
When planning how to grow sweet potatoes in containers, remember that depth and volume matter more than width: roots need loose mix at least 12 to 15 inches deep. Light-colored containers stay cooler, which helps roots in very hot weather, while dark containers warm up faster in cooler climates. For general advice, see our guide to container gardening.
Sweet Potatoes in Grow Bags
Sweet potatoes in grow bags are one of the easiest setups. Fabric bags drain well, let roots breathe and make harvest simple: just cut or tip the bag open.
- Choose bags of at least 15 to 25 gallons.
- Place them on paving or a deck in full sun.
- Water more often than plastic pots, because fabric dries out faster.
- Group bags together to reduce drying.
- Fold and store the bags after harvest for next year.
The Right Potting Mix
- Use a light, well-draining potting mix with some compost.
- Mississippi State notes that sweet potatoes need well-drained, sandy or loamy soil and a pH of about 5.5 to 6.5; heavy soil causes misshapen roots.
- Avoid garden soil in containers.
- Do not add fresh manure or high-nitrogen fertilizer, which produces lush vines but small roots.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers: Planting
Watering and Feeding
Clemson recommends at least 1 inch of water a week for sweet potatoes in the ground; containers need more frequent watering, especially in summer.
| Stage | Watering | Feeding |
|---|---|---|
| First two weeks | Keep evenly moist, as Mississippi State advises | None needed |
| Vine growth | Water deeply when the top 2 inches are dry | One light feeding with a low-nitrogen fertilizer |
| Root swelling (late summer) | Even moisture; avoid big dry-wet swings that crack roots | No more feeding |
| Last few weeks | Reduce watering slightly | None |
A hose with an adjustable nozzle makes deep watering easy; see our garden hose nozzle guide and expandable garden hose guide. For timing, see how often to water your vegetable garden.
Managing the Vines
- Let vines trail over the edge of the container, or guide them along a railing or trellis.
- Lift vines now and then so they do not root into the ground around the container.
- Trim very long vines if they get in the way; do not remove more than a small part of the leaves, because the leaves feed the roots.
- Young leaves are edible and can be cooked like spinach.
When to Harvest Sweet Potatoes
When to harvest sweet potatoes depends on variety and weather. Mississippi State gives 90 to 120 days for most varieties, and Clemson notes that sweet potatoes are ready when about 30 percent of the roots are larger than 3½ inches across.
| Sign | What it means |
|---|---|
| 90 to 120 days since planting | Most varieties are ready |
| Leaves start to yellow | Roots are maturing |
| Test dig shows good-sized roots | Harvest the whole container |
| Cold nights approaching | Harvest before frost; Clemson warns that cool soil reduces quality and storage life |
| Soil below 60°F | Mississippi State advises harvesting before the soil drops below this |
Do not wait for frost to kill the vines. Cold damages the roots and reduces how long they keep.
How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes from Containers
Gloves and a kneeling pad make harvesting more comfortable; see our gardening gloves guide and kneeling pad guide.
Curing Sweet Potatoes
Curing sweet potatoes heals small wounds, toughens the skin and, as Clemson explains, converts some of the starch into sugar for a sweeter flavor. Freshly dug sweet potatoes are not very sweet yet.
| Method | Temperature and humidity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal (Mississippi State) | 80 to 85°F with 85 to 90 percent humidity | 7 to 10 days |
| Ideal (Clemson) | About 85°F with 90 percent humidity | About one week |
| At home (Clemson) | The warmest room in the house | About 14 days |
| Too cool | Below 70°F, curing does not happen, according to Clemson | — |
At home, you can place the roots in a box or crate with a damp towel nearby, in a warm room or near a water heater, and cover loosely to keep humidity high.
Storing Sweet Potatoes
- Store cured sweet potatoes at 55 to 60°F in a dark, dry place, as Mississippi State advises.
- Never refrigerate: temperatures below about 55°F cause chilling injury and a hard core.
- Handle gently; bruises shorten storage life.
- Well-cured sweet potatoes can keep for six months or more, according to Clemson.
- Check regularly and use any soft roots first.
How Many Sweet Potatoes Can You Expect?
University of Missouri Extension notes that a hill of sweet potatoes yields about 2 pounds of marketable roots in the field. In a container, results depend on the size of the pot, the variety, sun and the length of the season. Larger containers, full sun and a long, warm summer give the biggest harvest.
| Factor | Effect on harvest |
|---|---|
| Container size | More mix means more and larger roots |
| Number of slips | Too many slips per pot means many small roots |
| Season length | Short summers give smaller roots; choose early varieties |
| Sun and heat | Sweet potatoes need warmth; shade reduces yield |
| Nitrogen | Too much gives vines instead of roots |
Missouri also recommends wearing cotton gloves at harvest to avoid skinning the roots, and not washing them before storage.
Sweet Potato Season at a Glance
This overview shows how to grow sweet potatoes in containers from start to finish. Exact dates depend on your last frost and your climate:
| Stage | What to do | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter to spring | Start your own sweet potato slips, or order them | Slips are ready when they are several inches long with leaves |
| After the last frost | Plant slips in containers or sweet potatoes in grow bags | Soil above 65°F (Clemson); plant 3 to 4 inches deep |
| Summer | Water evenly, feed lightly, manage the vines | Full sun and warmth |
| 90 to 120 days after planting | Check the roots and harvest | Before frost and before the soil cools below 60°F |
| Right after harvest | Cure the roots | 80 to 85°F and 85 to 90% humidity for 7 to 10 days (Michigan State) |
| Fall and winter | Store and enjoy | 55 to 60°F; never in the refrigerator |
Knowing when to harvest sweet potatoes and curing sweet potatoes properly are the two steps that make the biggest difference in flavor and storage life.
Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of vines, few roots | Too much nitrogen or too small a container | Low-nitrogen feeding; bigger container |
| Long, thin roots | Cold weather or harvest too early | Plant after soil warms; wait for maturity |
| Cracked roots | Irregular watering | Water evenly |
| Holes in roots | Wireworms or other soil pests | Use fresh potting mix in containers |
| Hard, bitter roots after storage | Chilling below 55°F | Store at 55 to 60°F; never refrigerate |
Clemson lists wireworms and root-knot nematodes as the main pests in home gardens; fresh potting mix in containers avoids most of them. See also our garden insects guide.
What You Need
| Item | Why it helps | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Large grow bags or containers (15 to 25 gallons) | Room for roots to swell | Fabric bags drain well |
| Loose potting mix with compost | Smooth, well-shaped roots | Avoid garden soil |
| Hose with adjustable nozzle | Deep, even watering | See our garden hose nozzle guide |
| Gardening gloves | Gentle handling at harvest | See our gardening gloves guide |
| Hand tools | Planting slips and loosening mix | See our gardening tool sets guide |
| Lightweight expandable hose | Easy watering of large containers on the patio | See our expandable garden hose guide |
| Kneeling pad | Comfortable harvesting at ground level | See our kneeling pad guide |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I grow sweet potatoes in containers?
Plant sweet potato slips after frost, when the soil is above 65°F, in a container or grow bag of at least 15 to 20 gallons with loose potting mix. Give full sun, water evenly, feed lightly and harvest after 90 to 120 days.
What size container do sweet potatoes need?
At least 15 to 20 gallons, and at least 12 to 15 inches deep. Larger containers give bigger harvests.
How many sweet potato slips per container?
About one slip per 5 to 10 gallons of mix, so two to three slips in a 20-gallon container or grow bag.
Can I grow sweet potatoes from a store-bought sweet potato?
Sometimes, but grocery store roots are often treated to prevent sprouting. Organic or homegrown roots sprout more reliably.
Are sweet potatoes in grow bags a good idea?
Yes. Grow bags drain well, warm up quickly and make harvest easy. Water them more often than plastic pots.
When should I harvest sweet potatoes?
Usually 90 to 120 days after planting, before frost and before the soil cools below 60°F.
Why do I need to cure sweet potatoes?
Curing heals wounds, toughens the skin and turns some starch into sugar, which makes them sweeter and helps them store for months.
How do I cure sweet potatoes at home?
Keep them in the warmest room of the house, ideally around 80 to 85°F with high humidity, for about one to two weeks.
Can I store sweet potatoes in the refrigerator?
No. Temperatures below about 55°F cause chilling injury. Store them at 55 to 60°F.
Can I eat sweet potato leaves?
Yes. Young sweet potato leaves are edible and can be cooked like spinach. Do not remove too many while the roots are growing.
Do sweet potatoes need full sun?
Yes. Sweet potatoes are a warm-season crop and grow best in the sunniest, warmest spot you have. In shade, plants grow vines but form few and small roots.
Can I grow sweet potatoes in a 5-gallon bucket?
You can grow one slip in a 5-gallon bucket with drainage holes, but the harvest will be small. Containers or grow bags of 15 to 20 gallons or more give much better results.
Why are my sweet potatoes all vines and no roots?
Usually because of too much nitrogen, a container that is too small or a harvest that was too early.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to grow sweet potatoes in containers: start with healthy sweet potato slips, use a large pot or grow bag with loose mix, plant after the soil warms up and give full sun and even moisture.
Sweet potatoes in grow bags are especially easy to harvest. Knowing when to harvest sweet potatoes, before the cold arrives, and taking the time for curing sweet potatoes afterward are what turn a simple patio crop into sweet, long-keeping roots.
Sources: Mississippi State University Extension: growing sweet potatoes at home; Clemson University HGIC: sweetpotato; University of Missouri Extension: growing sweet potatoes in Missouri.
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